Women On Tap Launches Pilot Bursary Scheme to Increase Access to IWCBD Brew Days
- Guild Secretary
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Social enterprise, Women On Tap CIC, has launched a pilot bursary scheme designed to remove financial barriers for people wishing to attend local International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) 2026 events. Applications are open now.
The scheme offers bursaries of up to £100 per person to help cover reasonable costs that might otherwise prevent attendance or add financial burden.
Attending an IWCBD brew day is widely recognised as a valuable opportunity for hands-on learning, networking, and skills development. For many women, participation has played a meaningful role in launching careers, building confidence, and supporting progression within the beer and brewing industry.
“We know that costs such as travel, childcare, or taking unpaid time off work can prevent people from taking part, or from participating fully” said Rachel Auty, Executive Director at Women On Tap CIC. “This pilot bursary scheme is built on trust and dignity, and is intended to make IWCBD brew days more accessible for more women.”
Applications for the bursary scheme are now open. The application process has been designed to be straightforward, respectful, and non-onerous, requiring only basic information about the event being attended and the costs support is requested for.
Applicants are not required to share personal circumstances or financial details.
Applications will be reviewed in good faith as they are received, and approved subject to the meeting of the bursary criteria and available funds.
This pilot scheme will be reviewed following this year’s IWCBD events, with the intention of informing a sustainable approach to widening access in future years.
For more information about the bursary scheme and how to apply, please visit: https://www.womenontap.co.uk/bursaries
This pilot programme has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the bursary sponsors: Kegstar, The Malt Miller, Lallemand Brewing, Charles Faram, CAMRA, Beer52, We Are Beer, Heineken, Muntons, Lucky Saint, and the Women On Tap Changemakers. SIBA is the headline IWCBD partner, WSET is Education Partner and Simpsons Malt are also a main sponsor. Women On Tap extends its sincere thanks to all sponsors for their commitment to improving access and inclusion within the beer industry.
NOTES TO EDITOR:
About IWCBD
Founded in 2013 by Sophie de Ronde, Head Brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery, Suffolk, UK, International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day is a worldwide annual event that takes place on and around March 8th every year in conjunction with International Women’s Day.
Brewery teams and home brewers come together with their communities and local groups to celebrate women in the beer industry, and to create and release collaboration beers, raising funds for women’s causes.
The brew days generally take place on the 8th March, but some happen at other times around this date.
For ten years (2014-2023) IWCBD provided a central theme and platform to bring together all the IWD brew day projects onto one map, under one brand, and into one marketing campaign. In 2024, the campaign was taken on by Women On Tap CIC.
About Women On Tap CIC
Founded in 2017, Women On Tap CIC is on a gender equality mission with a focus on the UK beer industry.
They are pioneers of initiatives that champion women through a programme of activism including events, campaigns, and arts commissions with one clear message – women belong in beer.
Women On Tap CIC is a registered trademark, certified social enterprise and not-for-profit and to date has delivered more than 100 events and 7 festivals.
Contact rachel@womenontap.co.uk
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